Cleanup system

Abstract

The cleanup system employs an associated clearing component, such as a tool comprised of squeegee and/or brush elements, to close the entrance to a containment or receptacle unit to thereby prevent leakage or escape of liquid, semi-liquid, and/or dry matter during transport.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleanup system comprised of a containment unit and a separate clearing component; said containment unit comprising a rigid body defining a chamber for containing matter, and having structure defining a top opening into said chamber and a contiguous front entrance to said chamber, permitting, unless closed, the substantial escape of matter from said chamber; said clearing component being a tool having a head member comprised of closure structure including at least one marginal portion having a surface-clearing element in the form of a squeegee element thereon, and a plate portion extending from said marginal portion; at least one of said containment unit and said clearing component having means thereon for securing said containment unit and said clearing component in an interengaged relationship in which said closure structure of said clearing component overlies said top opening and said front entrance of said containment unit, said closure structure being dimensioned and configured to close said top opening and said entrance, in said overlying position, against the substantial escape of matter therethrough from said chamber; said squeegee element of said head member of said tool being disposed upon entrance-defining structure of said containment unit in said interengaged relationships, to cooperate in effecting closure of said entrance to said chamber; and at least one of said opening- and entrance-defining structure of said containment unit, and said head member of said clearing component, including a gasket element disposed to bear upon the other of said opening- and entrance-defining structure and said head member, said gasket element cooperating with said squeegee element so as to provide a substantially liquid-tight seal thereat, in said overlying position. 
     
     
       2. The cleanup system of  claim 1  wherein said opening- and entrance-defining structure of said containment unit, and said head member of said clearing component, have edge sections that mate with one another for cooperatively closing said opening and said entrance in said overlying position. 
     
     
       3. The cleanup system of  claim 2  wherein said at least one marginal portion of said closure structure of said clearing component lies substantially in a first plane of said head member, and wherein said plate portion thereof lies substantially in a second plane, generally perpendicular to said first plane, and provides a said mating edge section thereon. 
     
     
       4. The cleanup system of  claim 1  wherein said entrance-defining structure of said containment unit includes, along a bottom edge, an internal wall portion, and wherein, in said interengaged relationship, a said surface-clearing element of said head member of said tool is disposed against said internal wall portion. 
     
     
       5. A cleanup system comprised of a containment unit and a separate clearing component; said containment unit comprising a rigid body defining a chamber for containing matter, and having structure defining a top opening into said chamber and a contiguous front entrance to said chamber, permitting, unless closed, the substantial escape of matter from said chamber; said clearing component being a tool having a head member comprised of closure structure including at least one marginal portion having a surface-clearing element thereon, and a plate portion extending from said marginal portion; at least one of said containment unit and said clearing component having means thereon for securing said containment unit and said clearing component in an interengaged relationship in which said closure structure of said clearing component overlies said top opening and said front entrance of said containment unit, said closure structure being dimensioned and configured to close said top opening and said entrance, in said overlying position, against the substantial escape of matter therethrough from said chamber; and
 said head member of said tool having substantially parallel marginal portions extending thereacross, each of said marginal portions having a said surface-clearing element thereon, one of said surface-clearing elements being a squeegee element and the other of said surface-clearing elements being a brush element. 
 
     
     
       6. The cleanup system of  claim 5  wherein said body of said containment unit has a rearwardly extending handle thereon and wherein said tool has a handle extending from said head member, said handles on said body and tool being constructed for interengagement to provide said means for securing said containment unit and said clearing component in interengaged relationship. 
     
     
       7. The cleanup system of  claim 5  wherein said, entrance-defining structure includes a ramp portion leading to said entrance to said chamber. 
     
     
       8. The cleanup system of  claim 5  wherein said body of said containment unit includes structure defining a port for clean-out, material discharge, or both; and wherein said system additionally includes a removable cap attached to said port-defining structure to normally close said port. 
     
     
       9. The cleanup system of  claim 5  further including a disposable, bag-like insert, for receiving matter, contained within said chamber of said containment unit body and having a normally open mouth disposed to cooperate with said opening- and entrance-defining structure for the receipt of matter displaced into said containment unit. 
     
     
       10. The cleanup system of  claim 9  wherein said containment unit body includes a top wall portion that is displaceable to facilitate insertion and removal of said bag-like insert into and from said chamber. 
     
     
       11. The cleanup system of  claim 5  wherein said substantially parallel marginal portions of said head member of said tool are opposite to one another.